# Krush (kickboxing)

Krush is a martial arts entertainment planning and promotional brand established in 2008. Currently based in Japan, it is the sister brand of K-1. Krush promotes kickboxing events across ten male and three female weight classes. It is considered to be the second tier of K-1, and has produced numerous K-1 competitors; such as Takeru Segawa, Tatsuya Tsubakihara and Yuki Egawa.

## Current Krush champions

| Division | Champion | Since | Title defences |
| Cruiserweight (-90 kg) | Mahmoud Sattari | July 24, 2021 | 1 |
| Middleweight (-75 kg) | Aqil Bukhari | June 23, 2024 | 0 |
| Super Welterweight (-70 kg) | Jinku Oda | August 18, 2024 | 0 |
| Welterweight (-67.5 kg) | Ayinta Ali | February 20, 2022 | 1 |
| Super Lightweight (-65 kg) | Shu Inagaki | April 28, 2023 | 0 |
| Lightweight (-62.5 kg) | Tatsuya Oiwa | July 27, 2024 | 0 |
| Super Featherweight (-60 kg) | Tomoya Yokoyama | February 24, 2024 | 0 |
| Featherweight (-57.5 kg) | Ryota Ishida | Sep 28, 2024 | 0 |
| Super Bantamweight (-55 kg) | Riamu Sera | October 31, 2021 | 1 |
| Bantamweight (-53 kg) | Eito Kurokawa | October 25, 2024 | 0 |
| Flyweight (-51.5 kg) | Daina | Jan 28, 2024 | 0 |
| Women's Flyweight (-52 kg) | Noriko Ikeuchi | Jan 28, 2024 | 0 |
| Women's Minimumweight (-48 kg) | Vacant | | |
| Women's Atomweight (-45 kg) | Kira Matsutani | November 25, 2023 | 0 |

## History

Krush was launched in 2008 as a collaboration between K-1 and All Japan Kickboxing Federation. Krush was seen as a feeder organization and the second tier of K-1 competition.
On June 22, 2009, organization representative Toshio Kaneda was arrested, alongside seven other members of the executive committee. Following their arrests, the AJKF was dissolved. The remaining committee and staff members founded "Good Loser", a parent company which continued organizing events under the Krush brand. Former kickboxer Satoshi Kobayashi was appointed as the general manager.
On July 24, 2009, Krush held their first tournament. The grand prix was scheduled to crown the new lightweight champion and included 16 participants.
On August 8, 2012, Krush signed a partnership agreement with Pancrase. It was the first such agreement in the four year history of the organization up to that point.
It was confirmed in early 2014 that Krush would begin organizing women's fights, as well as female title fights. The first Krush women's champion was crowned on March 17, 2014, when Syuri became the inaugural flyweight champion.
On May 29, 2014, two years after the bankruptcy of K-1's parent Fighting and Entertainment Group in 2012, and the sale of its brands and trademarks, K-1 World League was launched (later renamed to K-1 World GP). As such, the two organizations resumed their partnership.
From 2017 onward, cross-promotional events with Chinese organizations such as Wu Lin Feng and GLORY OF HEROS were held every summer, featuring Chinese fighters competing against their Japanese counterparts.
On January 26, 2019 Krush was renamed "K-1 KRUSH FIGHT" to further announce the connection between the two brands. However, on December 7, 2019, it was renamed back to Krush. The aim of renaming the competition back to Krush was to dispel the image of the brand as the second tier of K-1.

## Rules

Krush shares the same rule-set as K-1, which is as follows:
* The fights are contested in a ring which is six or more square meters and surrounded by four ropes.
* Only striking techniques such as punches, kicks and knees are allowed. Strikes with the back of the fist are allowed, but not with the elbow or the forearm. Multiple clinch knees are prohibited.
* Sweeps, throws, headbutts and strikes with the elbow are prohibited. Furthermore, spitting, biting, groin strikes, strikes to the back of the head, striking after the round has ended or the referee has called for a break, striking while the opponent is knocked down and excessive holding are all considered fouls.
* Matches, both regular and title matches, are contested in three three minute rounds. In case of a draw, an extension round is fought.
* Matches are scored based of four criteria:
** (1) Number of knockdowns a fighter has scored, with three knockdowns inside of a single round resulting in a technical knockout
** (2) Presence or absence of damage to the opponent
** (3) The number clean strikes, with strikes which are thrown with fight ending intention scoring more highly than those thrown with the intent of racking up points
** (4) Aggressiveness

## Events

| # | Event | Date | Venue | Location |
| 25 | Krush 1st Championship Tournament ~ Triple Final Round ~ | April 30, 2011 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 24 | Krush-Ex 2011 Vol.2 | February 13, 2011 | Shinjuku Face | Tokyo, Japan |
| 23 | Krush-Ex 2011 Vol.1 | February 13, 2011 | Shinjuku Face | Tokyo, Japan |
| 22 | Krush 1st Championship Tournament ～Round 2～ | January 9, 2011 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 21 | Krush 1st Championship Tournament ～Round 1～ | December 12, 2010 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 20 | Krush-Ex ～Road to the Championship～ | October 31, 2010 | Shinjuku Face | Tokyo, Japan |
| 19 | Krush 10 | September 20, 2010 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 18 | Krush 9 | August 14, 2010 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 17 | Krush 8 | July 9, 2010 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 16 | Krush-Ex 2010 Vol.2 | June 12, 2010 | Shinjuku Face | Tokyo, Japan |
| 15 | Krush 7 | May 27, 2010 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 14 | Krush 6 | April 29, 2010 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 13 | KrushxSurvivor | March 13, 2010 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 12 | Krush-Ex 2010 Vol.1 | February 19, 2010 | Shinjuku Face | Tokyo, Japan |
| 11 | Krush 5 | January 4, 2010 | Koruaken Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 10 | Krush-Ex 2009 Vol.2 | December 4, 2009 | Shinjuku Face | Tokyo, Japan |
| 9 | Krush Lightweight Grand Prix 2009 ～Final Round～ | November 2, 2009 | Koruaken Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 8 | Krush-Ex 2009 Vol.1 | October 12, 2009 | Shinjuku Face | Tokyo, Japan |
| 7 | Krush 4 | September 22, 2009 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 6 | Krush Lightweight Grand Prix 2009 ～Opening Round.2～ | August 14, 2009 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 5 | Krush Lightweight Grand Prix 2009 ～Opening Round.1～ | July 24, 2009 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 4 | Krush 3 | May 17, 2009 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 3 | Krush 2 | March 14, 2009 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 2 | Krush! Rookies Cup | February 1, 2009 | Shinjuku Face | Tokyo, Japan |
| 1 | Krush 1: Kickboxing Destruction | November 8, 2008 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |